WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES 169 



here were two broods of Coot, just hatched, swimming 

 about in company with their parents ; and in searching 

 some reeds I found an unfinished Reed Bunting's 

 nest as well as some mock nests belonging to a 

 Moorhen. I may say that I saw no Dabchick or 

 nests of that species either, which struck me as 

 being rather odd. 



May 2\st. Went off for L. wood, and on its out- 

 skirts found a Pied Flycatcher's nest in a Great 

 Spotted Woodpecker's old nest-hole. One of these 

 latter birds, too, was on the move, uttering its 

 single " chank " of alarm, and as there was 

 another hole underneath the one tenanted by the 

 Flycatchers, I thought that it might possibly be 

 its nest, though it was an old one ; but then I have 

 known all three sorts of British Woodpeckers use 

 the same hole two years in succession. The other 

 Pied Flycatcher's nest in the contorted tree here has 

 been thoroughly looted by something pulled out 

 and ruthlessly destroyed. I heard the Buzzards 

 somewhere ; but did not see them. The Herons 

 were in a flourishing state, and are by this mostly 

 hatched. 



Set out over R. hill, and sitting on the brow, 

 from which a perfectly charming view of the river 

 and opposite mountains is obtained, had a capital 

 sight of the male Sparrow-hawk as he dashed by, 

 hotly pursued by an angry Missel Thrush. Walking 

 across the hill, flushed a Meadow Pipit from her 

 five eggs, and I am certain that I was close to a 

 Curlew's nest, but could not find it. In the morass, 

 where I saw the " bunch " of Golden Plover some three 



